U.S. Figure Skating denies report of Russian deal

Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) - U.S. Figure Skating on Saturday denied a French report saying there was a deal between the U.S. and Russian teams to help each other win gold medals at the Sochi Olympics.

The sports newspaper L'Equipe, citing an unnamed Russian coach, reported that Russia would help U.S. skaters Meryl Davis and Charlie White win the ice dance competition in exchange for help in winning the pairs and team events.

U.S. Figure Skating said in a statement that the comments in the story were "categorically false."

"There is no 'help' between countries," it said. "We have no further response to rumors, anonymous sources or conjecture."

Davis and White have won six straight U.S. championships and are the reigning world champions. They won silver behind Canadian rivals Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.